Evelyn Williams
Encyclopedia
Evelyn Williams served in the New Jersey
General Assembly
representing the 28th legislative district. A Democrat
, she was elected in two special convention votes in 2005 to succeed Donald Kofi Tucker
who died on October 17, 2005. Williams, a resident of Newark
's South Ward, was elected to replace Tucker for the remainder of the 2004-2006 term and to serve until a special election can be held in November 2006 to fill the remainder of the 2006-2008 term Tucker was elected to serve on Election Day 2005.
Williams was arrested the week of December 22, 2005 on charges of shoplifting from an Irvington, New Jersey
discount store. Following her arrest, both the Newark Star-Ledger and political website PoliticsNJ.com ran a series of articles on Williams, exposing her alleged theft of a hefty state pension
normally reserved for policeman and firemen in active duty that she should not have qualified for.
In January 2006, Williams would also be accused of failing to pay election workers assisting with the gubernatorial campaign of fellow Democrat Jon Corzine
.
On January 6, 2006, Williams submitted a letter of resignation to Essex County Democratic Chair Phil Thigpen announcing her intentions to step down to clear up "misconceptions" regarding her conduct, and was replaced by Oadline Truitt
at a meeting of the Essex County Democratic Committee on January 9, 2006, one day before the New Jersey General Assembly reorganized for the 2006 session. During her service as an assemblywoman, Williams attended one voting session of the Assembly.
Assemblywoman Williams worked in social services for the Essex County
Department of Corrections until she was fired in December 2005 of charges related to improperly collecting her pension. She previously served as Deputy Mayor
of Newark
and as President of the Newark Board of Education
.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
representing the 28th legislative district. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, she was elected in two special convention votes in 2005 to succeed Donald Kofi Tucker
Donald Kofi Tucker
Donald Kofi Tucker was a representative to the New Jersey General Assembly from 1994, serving the 28th legislative district until his death...
who died on October 17, 2005. Williams, a resident of Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
's South Ward, was elected to replace Tucker for the remainder of the 2004-2006 term and to serve until a special election can be held in November 2006 to fill the remainder of the 2006-2008 term Tucker was elected to serve on Election Day 2005.
Williams was arrested the week of December 22, 2005 on charges of shoplifting from an Irvington, New Jersey
Irvington, New Jersey
Irvington is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a total population of 53,926, a decline of 11.2% from the 60,695 residents enumerated in the 2000 Census.-Geography:...
discount store. Following her arrest, both the Newark Star-Ledger and political website PoliticsNJ.com ran a series of articles on Williams, exposing her alleged theft of a hefty state pension
Pension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
normally reserved for policeman and firemen in active duty that she should not have qualified for.
In January 2006, Williams would also be accused of failing to pay election workers assisting with the gubernatorial campaign of fellow Democrat Jon Corzine
Jon Corzine
Jon Stevens Corzine is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs and of MF Global, and a one time American politician, who served as the 54th Governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. A Democrat, Corzine served five years of a six-year U.S. Senate term representing New Jersey before being elected Governor...
.
On January 6, 2006, Williams submitted a letter of resignation to Essex County Democratic Chair Phil Thigpen announcing her intentions to step down to clear up "misconceptions" regarding her conduct, and was replaced by Oadline Truitt
Oadline Truitt
Oadline Truitt is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly in 2006-2008, where she represented the 28th legislative district....
at a meeting of the Essex County Democratic Committee on January 9, 2006, one day before the New Jersey General Assembly reorganized for the 2006 session. During her service as an assemblywoman, Williams attended one voting session of the Assembly.
Assemblywoman Williams worked in social services for the Essex County
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
Department of Corrections until she was fired in December 2005 of charges related to improperly collecting her pension. She previously served as Deputy Mayor
Deputy Mayor
Deputy mayor is an elective or appointive office of the second-ranking official in many local governments. Many elected deputy mayors are members of the city council who are given the title and serve as acting mayor in the mayor's absence...
of Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
and as President of the Newark Board of Education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
.